I ride bus 18 from Crown Hill down to Belltown by the sculpture park. On occasion I have missed the bus and run back a block to my house to drive. Without fail, the bus and I get to my office at about the same time... it usually drives right past me by the time I've driven the 3 floors up key arena parking garage, walked down the stairs, crossed the street to my office.

On the bus I get to relax, sip coffee, listen to my ipod, and read. I know many of you do all this and more in your car, but I don't have the added stress of looking out for you.

Luckily my bus pass is free from work. I am really opposed to the fare hike. I think if the city is concerned about the cost of gas, they should build more electric trolley bus lines to Seattle neighborhoods. The cost of operation is more predictable, and they cause less diesel pollution as well.

I look forward to the Bus Rapid Transit to Ballard, but Lord knows how long that will take to put in place.

It's too bad Ballard got shafted on the monorail.

I paid my dues with public transportation living in NYC and San Francisco w/o a car for 14 years. Bike, feet, subway, street car, bus, BART, NJ Transit...great ways to get around in big metropolises with transportation that works pretty well.

As for Seattle...
I ain't taking no dang bus unless I absolutely have to. My corolla and my feet get me everywhere and if they can't, then I didn't really need to go there in the first place.

I always catch a cold or the flu when I take the bus. Rarely happens when I drive to work. It might be the waiting outside in the cold and rain for a bus that does it. No thanks. Funny that I never had that trouble in London taking the bus or the tube.

Ask me Cyclo I can get anywhere in this town on a bus. But I also know the city very very well since I started as a kid.

The simple reason it is not better is no one wants to pay for it. It kills me that these people here have a house that they paid $30,000 that is now worth $600,000 and still whine over their taxes.

I am amazed at Phoenix! Seattliltes are liberal and green as long as someone else pays for it.

People who complain about the experience of riding Metro need to get out and travel more! I've lived in SF & NYC and while riding public transit in those towns I've seen:
1) A Chinese woman kill a chicken when the driver refused to let her board with a live animal.
2) A man take a steaming dump in the aisle.
3) A stabbing.
4) Numerous fist fights.
5) A driver hit a parked car and keep going.
6) A drag queen singing show tunes very, very badly.

Compared to other places the buses here are clean, the drivers are nicer, the people don't smell nearly as bad and the buses are never terribly crowded (if you want to argue this go ride a NYC subway or 1 California first!!)

That's the good. The bad is:
1) Seattle is so wishy-washy and can't make up it's mind on light rail. This town really needs to grow a pair and make a decision for once! While supposedly green/liberal Seattle keeps voting on the damn subject Republican Phoenix actually went out and build a light rail system. That's pretty sad.
2) Getting around is hard to do if you're not familiar with the system. Apparently nobody at Metro knows how to draw a map! In every city I've been in all major stops have system maps posted. Seattle can't seem to pull this off for some strange reason. I've given up on Metro for any non-commuting trips.
3) Service is too infrequent. In most major cities during rush hour the buses/subway show up every 2-6 minutes. In Seattle it's every 15-20. A lot of this is due to low rider levels, I know. Still, if it's not convenient people won't use it and having to wait upwards of 20 minutes if you miss your bus isn't going to cut it for most people.
4) Byzantine payment systems. In NYC you have a reloadable smart card. In SF you have a monthly pass. In Seattle there's this whole list of various fare books, passes, etc. that you have to wade through. It's needlessly complicated.
5) No light rail. Talk all you want about express buses but the reality is there are a lot of people who will ride a light rail system but would never ride a bus. I've seen this countless times in SF and NYC where people will happily ride the subway yet not be caught dead on the bus.

Personally, I ride the bus from Crown Hill to Pioneer Square most days. It might take longer than driving but it's time I get to read and use my brain unlike sitting behind the wheel where I have to focus on my driving (though it seems like a lot of motorists can't be bothered with that!) Of course on days when I'm in a hurry I skip the bus and ride my bicycle! I can get from 85th & 15th to Pioneer square 10 minutes faster on my bicycle than on the 15X and that's while obeying all traffic laws. If I decided to ride like an idiot and blow red lights/stop signs I could probably shave another 5 minutes off that time.

Yes, bus transportation works fine for some. Let's hope they learned something from the recent snow storm.

That reminds me, I need to buy my February pass today.

Bussing back and forth to work isn't bad, but taking the bus during my free time can be a bit of an annoyance.

Yes, sometimes the people are absolutely unbearable, but that's what my Ipod is for.

To each their own. Sometimes I ride the bus, sometimes I drive. I personally don't want to wait for the bus in the pitch black of winter in the freezing cold at 5:30 am to get to work on time, so I drive. In the warmer months I am happy to take the bus.

One point that is VERY true is that compared to other cities, our public transportation is crap. I can't understand why we can't embrace better public transportation, without solely relying on Metro.

Please remember as you read this that Bark More Wag Less is a troll - respond as you so choose.....

"I just have never found Metro to be sh*tty, infrequent and irregular"

Metamucil?

I guess I just have never found Metro to be sh*tty, infrequent and irregular. It's always served me well.

"Public transportation is not meant to be a profitable business."

I know, but does it have to be so sh*tty, infrequent and irregular?

I like to use my transfer even if its expired :)
i've gotten pretty good at it.
mom would be so proud!

hmmmm.. with the noted exception of the #121 I have seldom had problems riding Metro, years ago or now. Of course I always situate myself where I have options and that helps. The #44 is a hard line to schedule since it is so heavily used. Really cross town in Seattle has always been hard due in great part to our geography.

Public transportation is not meant to be a profitable business.

I'll admit it Maria, I do miss the freak show that is the bus somedays. But come on, the service is awful in Seattle and if you have to make connections? Forget about it.

I've lived in cities with real public transportation; what they have here is a patchwork of autonomous systems that are5 poorly run yet still manage to suck our tax dollars dry. Where does Metro waste all that money we give them?

Create a decent public transport system (ie. trams to Ballard) and I'll be back to enjoy the freaks, babblers, gawkers and lonely, but excessively cheerful, overweight ladies living with 6 cats who insist on telling you about their latest medical problem.

I gave up being in a rush years ago. You live longer. My kid has a life of her own and we see plenty of one another.

When I worked downtown I was actually working in SODO so I had to transfer to get to East Marginal on the #121. I consider Seattle buses to be very well organized but the #121 is an exception. It tends to disappear and show up on its own schedule. Because of this a group of the riders became fairly close and The Lost Riders of the 121 meet often at various happy hours after work before catching our respective buses home. Downtown happy hours are the best alcohol and food bargains around and a good buzz and an appetizer dinner can be had for $25. Since I will not drink and drive it worked great for me and I often meet them still.

I admit it does help to work for a flexible organization so occasionally being late is no big deal. It also helped that the Director of the agency, our boss, rode the #121, Full Bird Colonel in uniform btw. Let me tell you EVERY whacko on the bus talked to him and he loved it, reveled in it almost but then he is a New Yorker who spent a large portion of his career in Europe and unlike so many Seattlites actually likes other people. I was always impressed at his kindness and patience with dazed and confused Vietnam vets.

Bus riding is what you make it, like anything else. Even the man who often barks from the U to Stone Way is……..interesting. Quite harmless and always a good tale. Gives spice to life.

Don’t we all wish to be as perfect as Barks more the bore.

No idea where you can park for less than $4, as I said, I get free parking. But quite frankly, my time is worth more sitting on the bus 1+ hour a day. If the service was faster than driving, I'd take the bus, and deal with the pyschos, babblers, stinkers etc. But it isn't. Maybe some folk's time isn't worth that much, I imagine those were the ones always trying to talk to you on the bus.

I gave up on the bus last year, Metro's service is an embarrassment. I tried for 6 months, you know, Save the Planet Now! and all that, but seriously, if it's a choice between 1 hr a day with wackos on the bus or one hour with my kids? No contest.

BARK, even if we don't take into consideration gas and car depreciation, please tell me where i can park for less than $4 a day.

Gas downtown? Probably less than a buck there and back.

Parking? Free and reserved.

Getting back home? 15 minutes. Maybe 20. Put in the blue tooth, call some friends and chat, share some laughs. Listen to Steve Scher talking about gardening on NPR. Always have a seat.

I actually hope more people volunteer to get stuffed in the bus sausages, it will help my commute.

Wouldn't lowering fares. much like airlines used to do to attract more cutomers, make much more sense? I am alomst certain most big city Metro's lose $$ each and every year. Guess who subsidizes them? (Jepordy music) Well? Is this the "change" we heard about? Is it governments job to control us the way they are? Do this, don't do that, etc? We are "pro-choice", right?

*are - people are just people.

This time I'm with Maria - one of the big advantages to working downtown is Metro. I can get to work in less than 20 minutes and there is no better way to start the day then gazing at the sunrise as we cross the Ballard Bridge. Heading home always takes a bit longer but I find it to be good decompression time.

The cost is minimal compared to gas, parking, insurance, maintenance; and putting up with other drivers. The people on the bus... as Maria said people of just people. No big deal.

Climate change, which is a more accurate term, may very well make Seattle wetter.

I work in the U District so I ride the #44. Since my employer pays for bus passes, cost is not a factor but time is. I work 6 to 2 so getting to work in the morning is a quick 20 minutes. The problem is coming home. The #44 takes almost 45 minutes coming back to Ballard mid day. Driving I can get to work in 15 and home in 20 minutes. When I worked downtown I always rode the bus. I often go on weekends and ride also. I have a choice of the #18 or the #17 within a block or two so it is very convenient.

The people on the bus are just people and rarely am I bothered or upset by them. I’ll talk if they want or be silent if they want. My biggest complaint is the huge pack packs so many carry these days. I have been whacked in the head by more pack packs than I care to think about. Why do you need luggage for work? Just how big IS your lunch?

RE: "Trolls on buses would actually be improvement" good one!

I don't go downtown much. Maybe once every 2 years.

The closest bus stop for me is about .75 miles away and since I have to cross the lake to get to work ... I don't even bother trying to bus.

It's faster to bike all the way then try and catch a bus. However, it's too cold (and wet) to ride, so I drive. (Plus I can drink a latte when driving ... I can't do that biking.)

Does any one know when global warming will hit Seattle? I'm looking forward to it.

Don't forget the cost of parking once you get downtown - if you can find it near your destination. That alone keeps me on the bus.

Trolls on buses would actually be improvement.

If I remember right, no one is forcing you folks to ride the bus. Go ahead, get in your car and fight the traffic instead. For some, it makes more sense to drive for various reasons. No biggie. Why make such a fuss?

Oh, 'cause you're trolls. Everything is negative to you.

If you want to waste time, ride a bus.

P.S. How's the cat, Maude?

Well, for most people their car costs are fixed. We have them, but don't use them because we need to save the planet, or something like that. So my car gets 30 miles/gallon, all other costs exists no matter what, so it's definitely cheaper to drive downtown to work. Sure the mileage adds wear and tear, but most modern cars can do 100K these days without any serious problems and low maintenance.

Besides, getting away from the babblers, stinkers, wannabe gangbangers, real gang bangers, 300 pounders with romance novels....getting away from all that? Priceless!

7). Person who sits on the bus smugly sizing up everyone else .

Unless you're not going more than about two miles, it's still cheaper to ride the bus. Most folks don't realize the true cost per mile of their vehicles.

Well it's definitely cheaper and faster to drive now, plus now more dealing with:

1). Lonely, overweight woman who lives with cat(s) and wants to talk even though I'm reading my book. She must be really lonely because she tries every day.
2). Crazy man stinking of p*ss, who somehow always manages to sit next to me.
3). Wanna be white gang banger with hoody, bad skin and music turned up so loud on his cheap a**, no-brand Chinese mpeg player that people in other buses can hear it.
4). Man who reads his PI every morning and guffaws loudly to let everyone know how indignant he is.
5). Geico Man (ie. young hispter with bike and beard) who takes 10 minutes to get his bike hooked up while saving planet earth.
6). 'Tom Boy and the Lady": Lesbians who believe sucking face is appropriate behavior on a rush hour bus.

Feel free to add to the list....